Bonneville

I believe this is what's known in modern streetwise parlance as a "Heads-up". Whatever, there's a programme on BBC2 tomorrow (Sunday 6th) at 10.00pm with the title Speed Dreams: The Fastest Place on Earth, perhaps not the most promising title, but from the brief description in today's Times, despite the fact that this piece contains one of my least favourite words 'petrolhead', it sounds as if it may be rather good. Apparently it's about a group of UK enthusiasts who travelled to Utah, presumably to take part in the Speed Week with their self-built cars, the first of two hour long progs it says here. It made me think of my Dad, who insisted on pronouncing the name 'en Français' as something like "Born-vee", despite having once owned a Triumph motorbike with that name.

No takers the first time, though there has been some favourable discussion of the first programme on the BBC Legends thread. The second part, the actual speed runs is on tomorrow (Sunday 13th 10pm BBC2), and I'm sure it will be just as interesting. Inevitably when any TV item on any form of motor sport is discussed on TNF, there were criticisms, it's what we do here, but overall quite positive comments. Some small inaccuracies from a historical Land Speed Record point of view, but it was generally well done, an enjoyable hour's viewing on a subject that most of us know only a little about. There was some remarkably skilled engineering carried out by a bunch of mostly rather eccentric 'men in sheds' type characters, but as is usual on BBC2, they let the characters speak for themselves, and didn't try to take the piss out of them, which would have been easy to do. The men's wives/partners also featured, remarkably supportive for the most part, though a comment by one of them was a bit shocking, something along the lines of "It's what he wants to do, and if he dies, he dies". But then, the man was a UK-born Swiss-domiciled investment specialist, presumably wealthy, so I'm guessing that he had very good life insurance cover.

The first hour was mainly about the preparation, tomorrow's is the actual record attempts, on the strength of what we've seen so far, highly recommended.

I've recorded the first episode, and will record the second, ready for a rainy day (i.e. any time now then...) based on your "heads up" and a very favourable review in the Grauniad. Thanks for the tip off.

I know it's a bit sad (in an anorak sense), but I have a small clump of Bonneville salt in my "office" as a memento of a pilgrimage out to the flats during a day off at an ALMS race meeting at (relatively) nearby Miller Motorsports Park. Mind you, it's all I can do to stop my other half chucking it out every time she cleans.

A very enjoyable programme although there was an awful lot of standing around by the 'Men in Sheds', bad language from the tattooed Mr Sweary melting aluminium in his shorts. (That should read 'Melting aluminium wearing his shorts). Cat Weazel looked a troubled sort picking up litter and other stuff on the beach but I'm curious as to how his Indian goes. Certainly a programme with a difference and I'm looking forward to Part 2 tonight.

Best TV I have watched.Looking forward to tomorrow night for second episode.

Wonderful TV - rare to sit through 2 hours without a moan. Great to see more historic footage alongside the more modern stuff -although with Bonnevile it can be hard to tell which is which. Any show that includes Art Arfons' wonderful, weird (and unsafe) "Anteater" streamliner has to get 5 stars from me. See http://www.samuelhaw...osmonster1.html for a photo. 7th one down.

Wonderful TV - rare to sit through 2 hours without a moan. Great to see more historic footage alongside the more modern stuff -although with Bonnevile it can be hard to tell which is which.

Yes, and we saw tantalising glimpses of all kinds of interesting stuff in the present day coverage. I remembered that Studebaker coupés. no doubt "coops" in their country of origin, were all the rage when I read Hot Rod magazine during my occasionally mis-spent youth, but I was surprised to see that their popularity seems to continue to this day. Apart from their relatively low-drag shape, is the reason the tuning potential of their supercharged engines?

My wife and i watched the 2 progs and they were jolly good fun. It appears from reading around the interweb that they were received very well by all and sundry which goes to show that scenery, real people, life stories and good old fashioned madness is what people like watching. Channel 5 take note!

Have a look at the current 50cc bike record. Just shows that aerodynamics can make up for lack of horsepower.

Apart from their relatively low-drag shape, is the reason the tuning potential of their supercharged engines?

I do think it is the shape most of all. You do see several of them at any meet there. The way the rules are written the actual origin of the engine in the cars does not matter in many classes. In fact there seems to be a delightfully limited amount of rules as to what you can and can't do. If you are even anywhere near the place while an event is going on; and there are multiple events over the late summer into fall, go. Really neat cars and bikes; currernlty a real shootout going on for the world's fastest motorcycle title with multiple well designed entries with different approaches to speed, with a very open and friendly group. These folks love cars and bikes and like to talk to people about them. It is so far removed from the atmosphere at todays "big time" events it is shocking. GO

It is also remarkably inexpensive for any event with the possible exception of Speed Week. I've never been to that so don't know.